Treat mental patients equally- PS

Government says mental health patients deserve to be treated the same way that other patients are given medical attention.

Speaking when he inspected the psychiatric ward at Lewanika General Hospital in Mongu yesterday, western province permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba bemoaned the deplorable state of the ward where mental patients are kept.

Mr Mwamba said he was not happy that patients were locked up in the ward because the ward does not have a secure gate adding subjecting the mental patients to such an environment merely worsens their condition.

He added that mental health patients are a source of worry and need decent treatment regardless of their health status saying mental health problems have the potential to affect an individual’s productive abilities.

And In response, Provincial Medical Officer Albert Sitali noted that mental health is a component that has not received much attention in the area.

Dr. Sitali said currently the hospital is in the process of rehabilitating the Psychiatric ward to make it habitable.

He also observed that patients with mental disorder do not receive support from members of the community and their families once discharged from the hospital.